Board of Directors
Ronald Shaich
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Ron Shaich is the co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Panera Bread Company. Shaich began his career in the bakery-cafe industry in 1981, when he co-founded Au Bon Pain Co., Inc., the dominant operator within the French bakery-cafe category. In 1993, Shaich led Au Bon Pain's purchase of Saint Louis Bread Company and the comprehensive re-staging of Saint Louis Bread Co. Between 1993 and 1997, average unit volumes increased by 75 percent, and Saint Louis Bread Co. began its national expansion under the name Panera Bread Company. Shaich believed that in order for Panera Bread to reach its potential of being one of the leading brands in the nation, it would require all of the company's financial and management resources. In May 1999, Ron led the sale of all Au Bon Pain Co., Inc.'s business units, with the exception of Panera Bread, and renamed the company Panera Bread. Today, Panera Bread operates or franchises over 1160 bakery-cafes in 40 states delivering fresh, authentic artisan bread and cafe foods in an engaging environment on a national scale. System wide sales in 2006 are projected to exceed $1.94 billion.
Shaich has received several national awards including 2004 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year national finalist and CNN/Moneyline CEO of the Week. In 2005, Shaich received the Gold Plate Award, presented by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA), as the outstanding operator in the food service industry. In 2004, Shaich was honored as a Golden Chain recipient by the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO). Panera has been recognized as the Association for Corporate Growth emerging growth company of 2003. The company has been cited by Fortune, Businessweek and Forbes as one of the fastest growing businesses in America.
For the fourth consecutive year, Panera Bread was rated among the best of 121 competitors in the Sandleman & Associates 2005 national customer satisfaction survey of more than 62,000 consumers. In the food industry, Panera was ranked highest among quick service restaurants in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States in all categories, including environment, meal, service and cost, in the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Restaurant Satisfaction Study of 55,000 customers. As reported by the Wall Street Journal's Shareholder Scorecard in 2006, Panera Bread was recognized as the top performer in restaurant category for one-, five- and ten-year returns to shareholders.
Shaich received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark University in 1976, and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1978. He is a member of the Lown Cardiovascular Research Foundation and is the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Clark University in Worcester, MA and former Treasurer of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
Domenic Colasacco
Director since March 2000
Mr. Colasacco has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Boston Trust & Investment Management, a trust company formed under Massachusetts state law since 1992. He joined Boston Trust in 1974 after beginning his career in the research division of Merrill Lynch & Co., in New York City.
Fred Foulkes
Director since June 2003
Professor Foulkes has been a Professor of Organizational Behavior and the Director of the Human Resources Policy Institute at Boston University School of Management since 1981 and has taught courses in human resource management and strategic management at Boston University since 1980.
From 1968 to 1980, Professor Foulkes was a member of the Harvard Business School faculty. Dr. Foulkes serves on the board of directors of Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the Society for Human Resource Management and the National Academy of Human Resources.
Larry Franklin
Director since June 2001
Mr. Franklin has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Sports, Inc., a leading sports equipment company, since 1986. Mr. Franklin joined Franklin Sports, Inc. in 1970 and served as its Executive Vice President from 1981 to 1986.
Mr. Franklin currently serves on the Board of Directors of Bradford Soap International, Inc., The Sporting Goods Manufacturer's Association, The Retail Industry Leadership Association, and the New England chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
George Kane
Emeritus Director since May 2004
George E. Kane became Emeritus Director in May 2004 and had served as a Director since November 1988. Mr. Kane was also one of our Directors from December 1981 to December 1985 and a Director Emeritus from December 1985 to November 1988.
Mr. Kane retired in 1970 as President of Garden City Trust Company (now University Trust Company) and served as Honorary Director of University Trust Company from December 1985 to January 2000.